On 1/20/2014 11:45 PM, Fran Farmer wrote:


David didn't go out of his way to step on it and nor did he use any of
the arsenal of the flora or fauna killing substances most of us have in
our sheds. The frog was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Get over
it.

Maybe you need to go down to the local dirt road and install "FROG
CROSSING" signs.


Steve

As I explained to Bird a couple of days ago (which obviously never made
it to Shelly's server), the system is normally sealed against intrusion.

D

Normally.

We had to pig an oilfield pipe line one time. For those who don't know,
a pig is a vinyl coated bullet cone shaped wad that is shot down a
pipeline under pressure to make sure the line is clear before it is
sealed or put into use. On one end, a "trap" of expanded metal is put
on to catch any high velocity refuse, and to make the discharge come out
in a T fashion rather than straight out.

Job ends one afternoon, and pipe end pig cap protector left off. Nutria
(google it) love tunnels, and an estimated four of them went into the
open end of the pipe. Next morning, pressure cap is placed on end of
pipe, and 15,000 psi pump attached. Pipe is something extra heavy, so
very heavy pressure is used to "PIG" the line. A mixture of seawater
and nitrogen at a 7000 PSI pressure.

The nutria (never determined how many) made the 2+ mile trip in less
than .5 seconds, and hit the expanded metal chamber on the catching end.

It was very easy to see the personnel who were anywhere near the
terminus, as well as any vehicles. Red spray was the description.

Joke of the day to anyone wearing red was, "Hey, did you save any of
that for lunch." Somewhat the consistency of pulled pork with a little
swamp grass mixed in.

Only a couple of injuries from puncture wounds caused by high velocity
bone shards.

Pigging was always an exciting activity.

Steve

SteveB wrote:
On 1/16/2014 12:12 AM, David Hare-Scott wrote:
It has been dry lately so I have been irrigating the orchard. I
moved the sprayers this morning and then started the pump. One of
the four heads wasn't working at all. These are the type with two
nipples, one has a tapper, a spring loaded arm that rotates the
whole assembly using the pressure of the water. Normally they will
give out some dribble of water from either of the two jets even if
blocked with organic matter sucked through the pump from the river. On
closer inspection something slimy was being squeezed out of each
jet. I pulled at it but did no good as I couldn't get hold of it. So
back to get some tools and take the head apart. As I lifted it
off the stand what should be hanging down out the inlet side - legs.
Green legs with webbed feet. Imagine you are a frog and have curled up
inside a bit of pipe for a
kip. Then a gush of high pressure water hits you and you are
travelling at speed down the main pipe, waterslide! Then you take a
branch into a much narrower pipe and round a few bends, upside down,
wow water rollercoaster! Then you reach the sprinkler head where
some of you goes out one jet and some goes out the other....


D

A simple diverter device would channel any oversized material out of a
relief pipe. If said pipe was mounted vertically, and the pressure
kicked up a tick or two, I would bet one could get performances up in
the 9.3 th 9.7 range, with a bonus for height.

Steve

This is a polypipe system not steel. There is a limit to the pressure it
will take (for those who are interested the pipe itself is quite strong it
is the joints that pop under excess pressure) and so the pump is not very
powerful, not that it needs to be as I am not raising the water far nor
trying to pump or spray it long distances. The diverter idea only works if
the intruder gets in the inlet end, if it gets in down stream (as in this
case) it will be past the diverter already. This has only happened once in
ten years I think I will leave the system as it is.

D

David Hare-Scott wrote:
songbird wrote:
David Hare-Scott wrote:

It has been dry lately so I have been irrigating the orchard. I
moved the sprayers this morning and then started the pump. One of
the four heads wasn't working at all. These are the type with two
nipples, one has a tapper, a spring loaded arm that rotates the
whole assembly using the pressure of the water. Normally they will
give out some dribble of water from either of the two jets even if
blocked with organic matter sucked through the pump from the river.
On closer inspection something slimy was being squeezed out of each
jet. I pulled at it but did no good as I couldn't get hold of it.
So back to get some tools and take the head apart. As I lifted it
off the stand what should be hanging down out the inlet
side - legs. Green legs with webbed feet.

Imagine you are a frog and have curled up inside a bit of pipe for a
kip. Then a gush of high pressure water hits you and you are
travelling at speed down the main pipe, waterslide! Then you take a
branch into a much narrower pipe and round a few bends, upside down,
wow water rollercoaster! Then you reach the sprinkler head where
some of you goes out one jet and some goes out the other....

how sad for the froggie.


yes

i hope you'll put a screen around the end soon.


This is the first time for this kind of problem as normally there is no
opening to the system.

also, it may be worth the time to set up a small
wetland/sandbox/pondlet to filter the water before
you suck it up as then you'll keep stuff out of the
lines/heads.



No need, the drawing end is a foot valve in the river which is screened.
The screen is fine enough to exclude frogs etc but will occasionally
admit a bit of grass or stick. The frog got in because I opened the
system to add in a new section of pipe.

D
And even if you did not I can see tadpoles getting through the mesh and
growing up in the pipe.